🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <35970AFF.29FC@umich.edu>, Josh Turner  <shua@umich.edu> wrote:
>Ever and anon wrote:

>> Unless you are old, handicapped, or otherwise
>> incapacitated, get off your lazy asses and ride a bike.

Personally, I didn't like the above statment either.  Off topic, and
written to inflame.  Most cycle commuters are not like this. 

>You want me to ride a bike across the 14th Street bridge? Yeah, right. 

There is a wide pedestrian walkway on the bridge that is suitable for
biking (many people commute via it, I've been on it many times myself), as
on Memorial, Key, and Chain Bridge. I've not ridden on Roosevelt, but have
seen signs for the bridge.

>And how, exactly, would you recommend that I should have biked to my
>last job? A 40 mile commute would take 3 hours or so on a bike--you want

Well, that is a different issue entirely. 

>that I should leave at 4:00 in the morning, and not get home until 9 at
>night?

Most people I know who have mega commutes do get up at 4am (or earlier!)
in order to avoid getting home at 9pm.  

> Please. And if you prefer that I mover closer to my office, how
>'bout ponying up 100K or so to assist my housing search.

This has always been a bogus answer.  Unless your company moved after you
bought housing and/or you located near a spouses job and/or ailing
relative (or other unique 'exception'), you choose to locate your home far
from your place of employment.  "housing" is available.  Even affordable
housing.  The question is, whould you be willing to take what you consider
less (i.e., older/smaller, perhaps apartment vs house) in order to drive
fewer miles, have less road stress, and more time with your family?  You
answered "no". You pay the price with a longer commute, and higher
automobile costs.  No one offered me 100K (geesh!) in my search.  I'd
seriously doubt you make less than I do.  If you do, you couldn't afford
the cars to do the 40 mile commute.  That is, unless you are a mechanic
and work on the heeps.  Or, of course, car-pool with neighbors to keep the
mileage down.
 
BTW, I have a friend who has a 80+ R/T commute since his office moved.
He's looking into biking it 1x a week.  Only 30 miles more than his
previous (very doable).  I agree, though, not for me, either.  I'd guess
that most bike commuters live less than ten miles from their office (I'm
13+, depending upon route).

>And I should bike to work in January, in a snowstorm? GFL.
Actually, January was rather warm this year... ;-)

Weather.  This is always the excuse.  OK, some folks bike commute year
round (my husband, for example). Some folks bike commute during warmer
weather, and then only pt, as schedule allows (that's me).  Others are
everywhere inbetween (that's me, too).  There are commuter trains and
metro.  There are carpools and van pools.  Heck, you don't even have to
carpool every day to make a difference.  How about 1 or 2 days a week (i
used to be in a 3 day a week carpool.  I only had a 7 mile commute (across
American Legion bridge where there is no bike access), but it made a big
difference in mileage/trips to the gas station, and car wear and tear. 
Being a 'part-time' car pool allowed for flexibility of schedule.  That
carpool ended when the other two retired (*sigh* no one wants to car pool
anymore).  

>Bike commuting is practical for some people. Others simply can not
>engage in this activity.

There are a lot of people who never gave it serious thought who would fit
into the profile.  The others should work for communities and viable
transportation systems (yes, public) to fit modern needs. No one should be
forced to own a car (with associated costs and upkeep)  for anything other
than 'convience'.  Getting to work isn't a convience, it is a necessity.
Moving to the outburbs isn't a necessity, it is a choice.

Marilyn Proctor Geary
Arlington VA